In Compagnie Marie Chouinard's "The Rite of Spring," lighting effectively propels the movement and tension of the dance.Compagnie Marie Chouinard

When Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" debuted in 1913, it was the stuff of riots. Audiences could barely grasp its dissonance and fast-changing rhythms, and the dance created by Russian choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky for the Ballet Russe had a raw sexuality that was scandalous for the time.

A century later, Stravinsky's score is rightly heralded as one of the masterpieces of 20th century music, with enough sonic twists and turns to give modern choreographers plenty of latitude in its interpretation.

To mark "Rite of Spring's" centennial, White Bird on Thursday began a three-performance run of Compagnie Marie Chouinard's production of the work as part of its Uncaged series at Portland State University. The troupe of French-Canadian dancers used fast-paced, often jerky body movement to reflect the ever-changing meter's of the music, with angular arm movements and pelvic thrusts suggesting sexual awakening.

And there's no getting around the sexuality of this "Rite of Spring." The dancers perform the work topless, covered in body makeup that makes them look pasty and cold. And throughout the work, the dancers incorporate horn-shaped props into their movement, sometimes attached to their arms and legs, suggesting an intersection of humanity and the wild.

Adding to the intrigue is the way the lighting design adds to the drama. For much of the piece, dancers are constrained within small spotlights, which increases the tension when multiple dancers are in the same space. At one point, the whole company is captured in a spotlight, with the horns suggesting a stampeding herd of wild bulls. The effect is gripping. This "Rite of Spring" commands you to lean forward and pay attention.

Opening the program was a short solo to Claude Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun." Dressed as a satyr, complete with horns and cloven hooves, dancer Carol Prieur stomps and darts through a forest, chasing sunbeams that excite and perplex the untamed beast. Then there's a comic twist that perfectly sets the stage for the carnal nature of "Rite of Spring." It's hard to imagine a better pairing of two works. Continues at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday at Lincoln Hall on the Portland State University Campus. Tickets: $30, $20 students and seniors, available online or at the Lincoln Hall box office one hour before performances.